Condenser-lap machine.



J. K. 'WHITTIER.

CONDENSER LAP MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 19, 1003.

1,034,850, Patented Aug. 6,1912.

COLUMBIA PLANOORAPN C(L, WASMINUTGN, D. C.

UNITE SATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN KILBY'WHITTIER, F LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO KITSON MACHINESHOP, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

CONDENSER-LAP MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JoI-IN KILnY WHIT- TIER, of Lowell, in the county ofMiddlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Condenser-Lap Machines, of which the followingdescription, with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

Like letters on the drawings denote like parts.

This invention is an improvement in condenser-lap machines andparticularly in means for preventing the splitting of laps as theyunroll upon the aprons of succeeding machines, such as othercondenser-lap machines and carding-engines.

It relates to improvements in means for advancing-and-compacting thefibrous material in combination with fiber-rearranging means wherebycertain fibers are intermixed and interwoven with other fibers beforethe lap is rolled and the splitting of the lap thereafter prevented. Itsobjects are: first, to provide a more eflicient form for theforward-terminal portion of the fiberrearranging means; second, toarrange the said portion and, especially, its fiber-rearranging elementsin more eflicient relation to the fiber advancing-and-compactingsurfaces with which they co-act; third, to improve the means for theattachment of the fiber-rearranging means, and, fourth, to provideattachments for condenser-lap machines such as can be manufactured andsold independently of the said machines and applied thereto in a millthat is far from any well-equipped machine shop and which comprisefiber-rearranging means. These objects are attained by the mechanismthat is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a portion of acondenser-lap machine. Fig. 2 is an elevation of a detail. Fig. 3represents a plan thereof; Fig. 4 represents a cross-section taken atline 4:4t of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 represents a cross-section taken at line 55of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 represents a vertical-section taken at line 66 of Fig.3; Fig. 7 represents a vertical-section taken at line 77 of Fig. 3; Fig.8 represents a vertical-section of a modification corresponding to Fig.7; Fig. 9 represents a verticalsection of a different modification corresponding to Fig. 7; and, Fig. 10 represents Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed August 19, 1908.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

Serial No. 449,352.

a reversed-plan of the modification that is represented in Fig. 9.

In Fig. 1, 1 represents the forward end of a trough-bottom that is morespecifi cally called a screen or a grid. It is the bottom of the troughor trunk, through which the lap-forming-materials pass to the.condenser-cages 2 2. The trunk-cover is represented by 3. The arrow inthe trunk indicates the general direction of the motion of suchmaterials. The typical shape of the surface of the previously depositedmass of such materials is represented in cross-section, by the line 4 4:4:, although the actual shape of such crosssection varies considerablyfrom time to time. Within the trunk and approaching the surfacerepresented by 4 4 4 are shown flying tufts or fragments of suchmaterials. Ordinarily, the parts of such tufts adhere together betterthan such whole tufts or fragments adhere to one another. As suchmaterials pass the draw-rolls 5 5 over the draw plate 6 they are calleda sheet. The sheet is compacted by the calender-rolls 7 7 7 7, andfinally is wound by the winding-drums 8 8 into a lap 9.

The surface represented by l 4 4 is one of comparatively easy splitting.In the sheet, it becomes substantially V-shaped with its angle inadvance and near the center of the sheet and with its other extremitiesin the surfaces of the sheet. In the rolled lap, the outer surfacesplits more easily than the inner one. Laps that contain much wastecomposed of tufts of straight parallel fibers, split very easily betweenor through such tufts and easily fall apart. By my invention, Idisarrange such parallelism and confusedly intermix and interweavefibers of different tufts by dragging forward some fibers or parts offibers and detaining others or parts of others. I prefer that suchrearrangement of the fibers shall occur throughout the thickness of thelap, that it shall be most eifective in a series of narrow and parallelstrips of the sheet, and, especially so, in the outside surface of therolled lap. I make this rearrangement more permanent by severelycompacting the materials immediately after the rearrangement and beforethe stresses that have been produced during the rearrangement within theelastic mass of the materials have had opportunity to return therearranged fibers to their original positions to any important extent.

In my improvements I utilize any usual co-acting fiber advancingand-compacting surfaces preferably the surfaces of'the upper pair ofcalender-rolls. I particularly utilize the parts of such surfaces wherethey bite the materials and another part of the surface of one of them,preferably the lower surface of the upper calender-roll. Preferably, Ioppose to the said lower surface a series of stationary teeth orprojections situated but a short distance apart in a line parallel tothe axes of the calender-rolls and extending entirely across themachine. If the fibers that lie between the advancing lowersurface ofthe upper calender-roll and the stationary point of each tooth of such aseries are compressed with force that is intense enough, then the fiberswill be rearranged sufli'ciently to prevent the splitting of the lap.The narrower the back and the sharper the point of each toot-h the lessthe total pressure of a tooth opposed to that of the calender-roll whichis necessary to compress the lap with an intensity that will rearrangethe fibers sufficiently to prevent splitting. I prefer to use strong andinflexible cast teeth of pyramidal shape and triangular cross'sectionwith plane sides and with very narrow straight backs formed by theintersection of the plane sides, the

directions of the said backs intersecting the lower surface of the uppercalender-roll at a large acute angle therewith, the said teeth havingend-faces that intersect the said sides in sharp fiber-detaining edges,and having sharp, fiber-detaining points or apexes that. are located inthe direction and at the forward ends of such backs in close proximityto the lower surface of the upper calender-roll, and near to the fibersthat are held in the bite of the rolls. As the advancing fibers, underthe most severe compression that they receive, pass the fiberengagingapex and edges, the elasticity of the fibrous material causes it toexpand into the vacant space in front of the end of the tooth and bendsthe'fibers forcibly through a large-angle right at those edges andespecially at the apex. Such bending greatly increases thefiber-retarding influence of the tooth. Almost immediately the fiberspass from these edges into the bite of the calender-rolls where they areseverely compressed. Such compression tends to bend the fibers and toprevent those that have been rearranged from returning to their originalposition in the sheet, a result which the elastic nature of the sheetand the stresses produced therein by the rearranging would otherwiseaccomplish to a considerable extent. The prevention of the partial,undoing of the rearrangement is more successfully accomplished thanwould have been the case had the rearrangement been performed at agreater distance from the bite of the calender-rolls. As the ordinarysheet approaches the lap-splitting-preventer its thickness approximatesto a couple of inches. When it is under the most severe compression insuch preventer its thickness is reduced to a very small fraction of aninch. The force of the greatest compression is severe and the toothwould tear through or partially through the sheet if its forward-end waslocated too far back from the bite of the calender-rolls. When thepreferred form of tooth is located substantially as has beenhereinbefore directed with its point in close proximity to the lowersurface of the upper roll and near to the bite of the calender-rolls itcannot tear through the sheet but only rearrange some of the fibers.

Some deviation from the above stated general direction of the back ofthe preferred tooth and from the location of the point of the tooth,both with respect to the location of the calender-rolls, and somedeviations from the shape of the tooth can be had without departing frommy invention but I prefer about the shape, direction, and locationstated.

In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 there is represented a plurality of teeth which arecast integral with and which project from a plate or support- 11. Thisplate is represented as fas tened, secured, or attached to a part 6 of acondenser-lap machine. This part 6 may be, preferably, a trouglrbottomand especially, I prefer, that it shall be a draw-plate, but it may be aprojection from the frame or it may be any part of a condenser-lapmachine. l/Vhen the teeth are proportioned as in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, Iprefer to cast the teeth and the support 11 with which they are integralof good tough bronze, as the endof a tooth, if it be of bronze, is notlikely to be broken off and carried by the sheet between the heavycalender-rolls to the great injury of such rolls. Because of thecostliness of bronze, I prefer to make the support 11 narrow, as it isrepresented to be in the drawing, rather than to make it as large andheavy as an entire draw-plate. /Vhenthe parts of the machine are beingassembled for the first time, and afterward when the teeth have becomeworn, it is desirable to be able to universally adjust the line of thepoints of the teeth with respect to the bite of the calender-rolls andwith respect tothe lower surface of the upper calender-roll and also togive the direction of the back of a; tooth an angle of about 67 with thesaid lower surface at its intersection therewith and an angle of about35 with the tangent to those rolls at their bite I prefer to cast:

that case, nofastenings, projections,.s1its, or

other fiber-detaining devices near or between the bases of the teethinterfere with the free advance of the fibers relative to the teeth, andthe line of the points or apexes of the teeth can be adjusted as a wholerelatively to the parts with which the teeth cooperate. Such bronzeteeth, integral with a support and thus adjustable with respect to thepart 6 of a condenser-lap machine to which their support is designed andadapted to be fastened, constitute an attachment which can bemanufactured and sold independently of the machine to which they may beapplied. Such attachments can be shipped to any manufactory and oldcondenser-lap machines will be greatly increased in efliciency by theirincorporation therein.

I prefer to apply my hereinbefore dc scribed invention for preventingthe splitting of laps to every breaker, intermediate, and finisherlapper. If the lap splits when unrolling in an intermediate or afinisher lapper or in a carding'engine, the split-off portion adheres tothe outer surface of the next inner coil of the lap. The operative must,as soon as possible and as far as he can, rectify this defect in theunwinding. Otherwise, the splitting and the adhesion may continue, whilethe splitting lap makes several rotations about its own axis. The splitmay tear through the sheet. It may tear across the width of the sheet.By my invention the operative is relieved from the necessity of closelywatching the unrolling laps, from the work of rectifying as far as hecan the defects due to splitting, and from throwing parts of the splitlaps into the waste to be worked over, and the waste is prevented. Inother words, the cost of production is diminished by the use of myinvention. The transference of a split-off portion of the lap from thepart of the sheet where it belongs to a different part of the sheettends to non-uniformity in the weight per unit of length of the productfrom the machine. In the usual intermediate and in the usual finisherlapper an evencr is provided and the evencr tends to correct suchnon-uniformity, but it will not perfectly correct it. In the usualcarding-engine there is no evener mechanism and the resultingnon-uniformity of the product is more serious. l/Vhen my invention isused the laps do not split and non-uniformity consequent uponlap-splitting does not occur.

As a convenient means for adjustably fastening or securing theattachment to the condenser-lap machine, I have provided slotted holessuch as 12 in the part 6, preferably in the draw-plate, and bolts suchas 18 having nuts 16 the said bolts passing through holes 14 in theplate or support 11 and through the holes 12 in the part 6. By

making the slotted holes 12 slightly wider than the diameters of thebolts 18 the general direction of the line of the forwardterminals orpoints of the teeth can be made parallel to the center lines of thecalenderrolls or other means for compacting and carrying-forward thelap-forimug-materials. By giving to the greater length of the slots inthe part 6 the direction of the general forward movement of thelap-forming-materials those points can be set at the right distance fromthe bite of such means and by filing or machining the spots or feet 15on the under side of the plate or support 11 the points of the teeth canbe elevated or lowered with respect to the upper member of such means.

In the preferred form of adjusting-means, the positions in which thenuts of the adjusting-and-fastening-bolts 18 are preferably located arecomparatively inaccessible. It is convenient to have the heads of suchbolts at the top, as is shown in Figs. 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, and 9 and to havemeans for preventing the rotation of the nut secured to the machine. Avertical, cast, projection 17 on a level with the nut and near theretois shown in Figs. 2, 3, 6, and 7 as such means. In Fig. 8 the nut isrepresented as let into a hole in the part 6, the hole having verticalsides 17 near to the edge of the nut as such means. In Figs. 9 and 10 apin 17 is illserted fast in a hole in the part (5 near to the edge ofthe nut as a means preferred when the attachment is adjustably securedto a draw-plate or to a screen, in which cases the nut is accessiblewith difficulty.

I do not confine myself to the means for adjustment herein shown anddescribed. I consider that any adjustment in the direction of the lineof the points of the teeth that is more extended than that which isherein shown and described is practically unnecessary, but that it wouldbe within my invention, if the teeth are integral with their support. a

I claim:

1. In a condenser-lap machine, the combination with a pair ofcalender-rolls, a drawplate located near to the said rolls, a supportadjustably secured to the said plate, and fiberrearranging teeth,integral with the support, located in the path of the advancing fibers,and having forward-terminal portions which are straight andupwardly-andforwardly inclined, of fastenin appliances for adjustablysecuring the said support to the said draw-plate with thefiber-rearranging portions of the teeth in the desired positions ofadjustment relatively to the said rolls.

2. In a condenser-lap machine, the combination with a pair ofcalender-rolls; a draw-plate located near to the said rolls; a supportadjustably secured to the said plate;

and, a plurality of fiber-rearranging teeth integral with the saidsupport, located in the path of the fibers, each tooth being bounded bythree plane surfaces meeting in a point located near to the bite of thecalender rolls, two of the said surfaces uniting to form a back directedtoward the lower surface of the upper calender-roll at a large angletherewith; of fastening appliances for adjustably securing the saidsupport to the said draw-plate with the fiber-rearranging portions ofthe teeth in the desired 'posi tions of adjustment relatively to thesaid rolls.

3. In a condenser-lap machine, the corn bination with: a pair ofcalender-rolls; and, a draw-plate located near to the said rolls; of asupport fastened to the said drawplate and having a plurality offiber-rearranging teeth integral therewith and located in the path ofthe advancing fibers, each such tooth having a forward-terminal portionhaving plane sides and a straight narrow back, the said sides endingabruptly in sharp fiber-rearranging edges at their intersection with theend face of the tooth near to the bite of the calender-rolls, and thesaid tooth having a sharp fiber-rearranging apex in the direction at theforward end of the said back and in close proximity to the lower surfaceof the upper calenderroll, the direction of the said back making anangle of about 67 with such surface at its intersection therewith and anangle of about with the tangent to the said rolls at their bite.

4c. In a condenserdap machine, the combination with: a pair ofcalenderrolls; a drawplate located near to the said rolls; and, asupport fastened to the said draw-plate and having a plurality offiber-rearranging teeth integral therewith and located in the path ofthe advancing fibers, each such tooth having a forward-terminal portionhaving plane sides and a straight narrow back, the said sides endingabruptly in sharp fiberrearranging edges at their intersection with theend face of the tooth near to the bite of the calender-rolls, and thesaid tooth having a sharp fiber-rearranging apex in the direction and atthe forward end of the said back and in close'proxiniity to the lowersurface 7 of the upper calender-roll, the direction of the said backmaking an angle of about 67 with such surface at its intersectiontherewith and an angle of about 35 with the tangent to the said rolls attheir bite; of fastening appliances for adjustably securing the saidsupport to the said draw-plate with the fiber-rearranging edges andapexes of the teeth in the desired positions of adjustment relatively tothe said rolls.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

' JOHN KILBY .VHITTIER. VJitnesses IRVING D. KIMBALL, GHANNING WHITAKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

